Maybe, but only if a lunar space elevator were built first. That could hypothetically be built with current technology.
Similarly, a terrestrial elevator to orbit would change things, but that requires further technological advancement.
Current propellant based escape technologies would prevent economic feasibility.
Orbiting or landing on the moon seems like an unnecessary delta-v tollbooth if the eventual target is asteroid mining. Why would you slow down to get to the moon if you eventually have to speed back up to get out to the asteroid belt?
@uphillbothways Couldn’t it be a staging ground, not just for lunar mining, but also asteroid mining?
@BastingChemina
Maybe, but only if a lunar space elevator were built first. That could hypothetically be built with current technology.
Similarly, a terrestrial elevator to orbit would change things, but that requires further technological advancement.
Current propellant based escape technologies would prevent economic feasibility.
Orbiting or landing on the moon seems like an unnecessary delta-v tollbooth if the eventual target is asteroid mining. Why would you slow down to get to the moon if you eventually have to speed back up to get out to the asteroid belt?
Why would you “slow down to get to the moon” when you started there?